Just five months ago, Illinois lawmakers voted in favor of a daily moment of silence in public schools. In October, an atheist, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, filed suit. Now, 33 state representatives have changed their minds.
The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act required Illinois public schools to start each day with a brief period of silence.
“That action actually passed the Senate chamber and the House chamber overwhelmingly, with bipartisanship support from both sides of the aisle," said Sen. Kimberly Lightford, the Democrat who sponsored the bill.
She said she suspects the 33 lawmakers were pressured to change their vote when the state House voted on a new measure this week.
